Field Trips
Field trips allow WOS members to explore new places or revisit familiar haunts. Each trip is open to a limited number of participants. Each WOS member may join up to four trips per year (excluding Annual Conference trips). Non-members may attend as a member's guest once per year. Questions about field trips should be directed to the trip leaders.
If you would like to lead a field trip or to suggest a location for a field trip, send a note to Matt Bartels or Tim O'Brien, Field Trip Co-Chairs.
Saturday through Monday, February 18-20
Waterville Plateau and Okanogan Highlands
Leaders: Shep Thorp & Ruth Sullivan
Shep Thorp and Ruth Sullivan will lead this popular winter trip to the Okanogan Highlands and the Waterville Plateau. Target birds include Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Sage Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Snowy, Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owl, Pygmy Nuthatch, Bohemian Waxwing American Tree Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Common Redpoll, and Snow Bunting.
Areas covered will include the Conconully area, Havillah, Chesaw, Tonasket, Central Ferry Canyon, Bridgeport Hill Road, Leahy Junction, the town of Bridgeport, and the Bridgeport and Cassimer Bars. The trip will also visit Cameron Lake Road, where they found a McKay's Bunting two years ago.
All overnights will be in Omak. Limited to 15 participants.
For details, contact Ruth Sullivan by email or by phone at (253) 564-7419 (leave a message, please).
Sunday, March 11
Blaine and Semiahmoo Spit, Whatcom County
Leader: Joe Meche
Joe Meche, President of North Cascades Audubon in Bellingham, will lead a field trip along the shoreline of western Whatcom County, starting just south of the Canadian border.
We will meet at Marine Park in Blaine at 9:00 AM and explore the Blaine harbor/waterfront on foot. We will then carpool to the Semiahmoo Spit with a few stops along the way. After more birding and a lunch break at Semiahmoo, we will return to Marine Park. Species numbers can be very high, with a possibility of four species of loons, grebes, all three scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, and a variety of other sea and bay ducks and large numbers of Brant and shorebirds.
For more info and to sign up,
contact Joe by email or at (360) 739-5383.
Saturday, March 24
Southern Kitsap County
Leaders: Brad and Dan Waggoner
Join Brad and Dan in an exploration of some of the less-visited parts of southern Kitsap County. We will focus on lakes and other habitats that might turn up some of the harder-to-find species for Kitsap County. Plan for a whole day, dress warmly, and bring lunch and carpool money.
For details,
contact Brad by email or at (206) 780-9581.
